“Regardless of what is happening in our world on April 12th, Easter cannot be canceled. We may not be able to gather in our glorious Easter celebrations in our lily-decorated sanctuaries, but Easter cannot be canceled. The resurrection cannot be stopped or delayed or defeated!” Bishop Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, brings words of encouragement and hope to all this Easter.

United Methodist congregations, as well as many other worshipping communities, are suspending in-person worship and gatherings this Easter. The health care crisis does not mean worship stops or that the church is closed.

Many congregations are finding unique ways to worship and connect online, video conferencing, and live stream services are ways local churches will gather in worship this Easter. 

If you are looking for the support of a faith community, view the directory of United Methodist Churches, with direct links to online worship services.  If your congregation has an option to worship online and is not listed, or if the information that is listed is not correct,  send an e-mail with the information. 

Join Bishop Ough, April 12, 2020, at 11 a.m. CDT / 10 a.m. MDT. Celebrate the resurrection, in the United Methodist tradition, and watch a televised broadcast of Easter worship.

KELO TV, a CBS affiliate reaching audiences across South Dakota, northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, and northeast Nebraska, will broadcast this special Easter service, with Bishop Ough preaching. This service is being planned by Sioux Falls area United Methodist congregations.

KFYR TV, an NBC affiliate reaching western North Dakota—west of Jamestown, and eastern Montana, will broadcast a service featuring celebrants and musicians from Bismarck area United Methodist congregations.

WDAZ and WDAY TV, an ABC affiliate with coverage in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, will offer two broadcast options to view Easter worship, with Bishop Ough preaching.  At 11 a.m. -12 p.m.  the service will be broadcast on WDAY Xtra. WDAY Xtra is available on these Cable Providers: Barnesville Municipal - Ch. 208, Halstad Telephone - Ch. 7, Midcontinent Communications - Ch. 596, MLGC, LLC - Ch. 110, CableOne - Ch. 1029.  A United Methodist Easter worship, will also be broadcast on the WDAY and WDAZ, primary channels, at 1-2 p.m.

Local congregations are encouraged to hold  virtual worship  gatherings as planned. Consider inviting someone, who may not have a way to attend a worship service, to view the broadcast.

“Some things will continue to change for the unforeseeable future,” says Ough. “We live in the confidence of the resurrection promise and proclamation: Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed!”